Accounting Rate of Return (ARR), also popularly known as the average rate of return measures the expected profitability from any capital investment. ARR indicates the profitability from investments using simple estimates which helps in evaluating capital projects. This method divides the net income from an investment by the total amount invested in obtaining the ARR. Show
Using ARR will enable the investors to decide on viability and profitability of capital projects to be undertaken. It also helps investors analyse the risk involved in the investments and conclude if the investment would yield enough earnings to cover the risk level. It is one of the widely used financial ratios and comes handy during the decision-making process when different projects have to be compared and selected. However, ARR calculation does not consider the interest accrued, taxes, inflation, etc., this makes it an insufficient method for huge and long-term capital investments. How to calculate the accounting rate of return (ARR)?Note:
If the result is equal to or greater than the desired ARR, then the project is accepted. When two or more projects are compared, the project that has greater ARR is accepted. Generally, ARR calculation is not only done before accepting the proposal, but it is also done year-on-year to check on the returns from the project since ARR does not consider multi-period variables for its calculation. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the accounting rate of return?
Illustrations
20000 / 100000 = 20% is the ARR
When a decision has to be made only based on the accounting rate of return: The proposal II has 30% ARR and yields a better result to the company. Hence Proposal II should be selected.
File your returns in just 3 minutes 100% pre-fill. No manual data entry What is the Accounting Rate of Return?
Accounting Rate of Return Formula & Calculation (Step by Step)Accounting Rate of Return (ARR) = Average Annual Profit /Initial Investment You are free to use this image on your website, templates, etc., Please provide us with an attribution linkArticle Link to be Hyperlinked The ARR formula can be understood in the following steps:
ExamplesExample #1Kings & Queens started a new project where they expect incremental annual revenue of 50,000 for the next ten years, and the estimated incremental cost for earning that revenue is 20,000. The initial investment required to be made for this new project is 200,000. Based on this information, you are required to calculate the accounting rate of return. Solution Here we are given annual revenue, which is 50,000 and expenses as 20,000. Hence the net profit will be 30,000 for the next ten years, and that shall be the average net profit for the project. The initial investment is 200,000, and therefore we can use the below formula to calculate the accounting rate of return:
Therefore, the calculation is as follows,
ARR will be –
Example #2AMC Company has been known for its well-known reputation of earning higher profits, but due to the recent recession, it has been hit, and the gains have started declining. On investigation, they found out that their machinery is malfunctioning. They are now looking for new investments in some new techniques to replace its current malfunctioning one. The new machine will cost them around $5,200,000, and by investing in this, it would increase their annual revenue or annual sales by $900,000. The device would incur yearly maintenance of $200,000. Specialized staff would be required whose estimated wages would be $300,000 annually. The estimated life of the machine is of 15 years, and it shall have a $500,000 salvage valueSalvage value or scrap value is the estimated value of an asset after its useful life is over. For example, if a company's machinery has a 5-year life and is only valued $5000 at the end of that time, the salvage value is $5000.read more. Based on the below information, you are required to calculate the accounting rate of return (ARR) and advise whether the company should invest in this new technique or not? Solution We are given annual revenue, which is $900,000, but we need to work out yearly expenses.
First, we need to calculate the depreciation expensesThe Depreciation Expense Formula computes how much of the asset's value can be deducted as an expense on the income statement. Formula for Straight-line depreciation method= Cost of an asset - Residual value/useful life of an asset.read more, which can be calculated as per below:
Average Expenses
Average Annual Profit
Therefore, the calculation of the accounting rate of return is as follows,
ARR will be – Since the return on dollar investment is positive, the firm may consider investing in the same. Example #3J-phone is set to launch a new office in a foreign country and will now be assembling the products and sell in that country since they believe that the government has a good demand for its product J-phone. The initial investment required for this project is 20,00,000. Below is the estimated cost of the project, along with revenue and annual expenses.
Based on the below information, you are required to calculate the accounting rate of return, assuming a 20% tax rate. Solution Here we are not given annual revenue directly either directly yearly expenses and hence we shall calculate them per the below table. Average Profit =400,000-250,000
The initial investment is 20,00,000, and therefore we can use the below formula to calculate the accounting rate of return: Therefore, the calculation is as follows,
ARR will be – ARR CalculatorYou can use this calculator
Relevance and UsesAccounting Rate of Return formula is used in capital budgetingCapital budgeting is the planning process for the long-term investment that determines whether the projects are fruitful for the business and will provide the required returns in the future years or not. It is essential because capital expenditure requires a considerable amount of funds.read more projects and can be used to filter out when there are multiple projects, and only one or a few can be selected. This can be used as a general comparison, and in no way it should be construed as a final decision-making process, as there are different methods of capital budgeting, which helps the management to select the projects those are NPV, profitability IndexThe profitability index shows the relationship between the company projects future cash flows and initial investment by calculating the ratio and analyzing the project viability. One plus dividing the present value of cash flows by initial investment is estimated. It is also known as the profit investment ratio as it analyses the project's profit.read more, etc. Further management uses a guideline such as if the accounting rate of return is more significant than their required quality, then the project might be accepted else not. Recommended ArticlesThis has been a guide to the Accounting Rate of Return and its definition. Here we learn how to calculate ARR using its formula and practical examples, and a downloadable excel template. You can know more about financing from the following articles –
What is the accounting rate of return equation?The Accounting Rate of Return formula is as follows: ARR = average annual profit / average investment.
What is the formula to calculate initial investment?Initial investment is the amount required to start a business or a project. It is also called initial investment outlay or simply initial outlay. It equals capital expenditures plus working capital requirement plus after-tax proceeds from assets disposed off or available for use elsewhere.
What is the formula for average rate of return?The average rate of return (ARR) is the average annual return (profit) from an investment. It is expressed as a percentage of the original sum invested. The ARR is calculated by dividing the average yearly profit by the cost of investment and multiplying by 100 percent.
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